Lancaster barn burns

Firefighters from at least 15 cities and towns this afternoon battled a four-alarm fire that destroyed a 1-1/2-story barn at Manny's Dairy Farm, 237 Brockelman Road.

Flames from the 1:15 p.m. fire were visible from Interstate 495 in Marlboro and Route 146 in Worcester.

No injuries were reported, and there was no loss of livestock. The farm has cows, goats and horses and other animals, according to neighbors and fire officials.

The barn, which was used for processing animal products, was destroyed, but firefighters kept the fire from decimating other nearby barns, said Lancaster Deputy Fire Chief Michael Hanson.

The farm is owned by Manny and Maria Moreira.

Firefighters were hampered by a lack of high-pressure fire hydrants in the area, although they ran hoses all the way to Route 117.

“The water kept going out,” Deputy Chief Hanson said. “We did the best we could.”

Once the fire department realized they would need help from tanker trucks, they activated a task force that sent tankers from surrounding communities and as far away as Millville and Sutton. The tankers put their water into large vats made of plastic tarps on metal frames.

That water was pumped through a pumper truck, into fire hoses and onto the fire, both from the ground and from a giant ladder from the Leominster Fire Department. Tankers were still arriving shortly before 4 p.m., although most of the fire was under control shortly after 3 p.m.

Once firefighters knew no one was in the barn, and after they and farm workers removed propane tanks from the building, the fire departments worked on the building from the outside. “Surround and drown,” Deputy Chief Hanson described it.

He said this afternoon that it was too early to know what had caused the blaze, but the Lancaster Fire and Police departments and the state fire marshal's office are investigating.

At 6 p.m. State Fire Marshal Stephen D. Coan said the fire remained a very active, ongoing investigation. Fire investigators will not be able to look at the scene for a cause until tomorrow.

“Basically, the fire at this stage is still being extinguished. The hot spots are being taken cared of,” Mr. Coan said. “At this point, the investigators have not had the opportunity to speak to persons that were in and around the area of the barn complex. So that part of the investigation is ongoing. And when the fire is finally extinguished, most likely they will get an opportunity to look at the fire scene itself.”

Mr. Coan said the Lancaster Fire Department did a great job with the obstacles they had facing them and making sure the fire didn't spread to other structures.

"It was a very hot fire for the Lancaster Fire Department and many surrounding communities to fight, primarily due to the fact that there is no municipal water in that end of Lancaster,” Mr. Coan said. “It requires the response of numerous tankers to bring water to the scene. And, while tanker shuttles are very effective in establishing water supply, it is time-consuming to get those mutual aid communities in there to establish water.”

Thurley Piermarini, one of the Moreiras' neighbors, said “They're really nice people” but have “terrible luck.” She and others recalled previous fires on the property.In 2009, an electrical fire caused $180,000 to a three-room structure and contents at Manny's. That fire was in the original farmhouse on the property. In 2000, fire destroyed a large tool and equipment shed on the property.

Despite those setbacks, they are hardworking people, Ms. Piermarini said. “He's wicked good to his animals,” she said. “He's up at 5 in the morning and doesn't quit until 8 at night” Ms. Piermarini said.

The farm is less than a mile from the intersection of Interstate 190 and Route 117.